In recent years, the questions of ethnicity, race and racism havecome to assume an increasing prominence in scholarly as well associal discussions in Asia. In response to the turbulent globaleconomy, the fracturing of international barriers, and a renewedsurge in flows of migrants and displaced persons worldwide, nationalpopulist movements have suddenly become a potent and growingpolitical force. Longstanding liberal values such as pluralism,tolerance, and multicultural coexistence have come under challenge,as fears of economic crisis and cultural conflict have given strengthto extremist stances across the political spectrum. Finally, the factthat historical barriers have come down between different populationgroups has resulted in some cases in the intensification of conflictsbetween them over other explosive fault-lines, such as differences ofreligious belief that too can take on a racial or ethnic dimension.

The current rise of populist anger across the West portends apotential revival of the nation- state, which has often had arelatively homogeneous population as its foundation. Alternatively,the fragmentation of social and political systems may indicate areturn to older institutional arrangements that could be surprisinglypeaceful and tolerant compared to modern multi-ethnic ormulti-cultural states because they were more willing to recognizehard cultural differences. What kind of relationship between the oldand the new are we likely to see as the nations and cultures of Asiaattempt to adjust to new social and economic realities?

In the Asia of today, what does ethnic diversity and pluralism mean?What kind of impact has globalization had on the relations betweendifferent ethnic groups in multi-ethnic states such as Malaysia,Singapore, and Indonesia? What kinds of conflicts – as well as newmodes of coexistence – are being generated by the flow of peoples inaccordance with the demand for labor and patterns of investment? Howare more ethnically homogeneous nations such as China, South Korea,and Japan affected by this dynamic? Are there already signs ofimpending change in these latter, more socially homogeneous,societies?

In exploring this topic, the 2019 Situations conference welcomespapers on such subjects as:

- The history of race and ethnicity as Asian ideas- Non-Western models of pluralism and diversity- Refugee flows and crises around the globe- Racial divides and religious differences- Diaspora and identity- Race, equality, and democracy- The future of cosmopolitanism- Race and models of beauty- Race, culture, and the high-trust society- Multiculturalism, pluralism, and empire- Race, ethnicity, and biomedical technologies- Belonging and exclusion- Flows of labor and capital- Challenges to multiculturalism

1. Early inquiries with 200-word abstracts are appreciated. Thedeadline for a 4,000-word presentation is September 1 2019.

2. Please include a Bio-Statement with your original submission, youraffiliation, and a viable email address. All submissions shouldfollow the Chicago Manual of Style (16thed.). Endnotes recommended.Refer to http://situations.yonsei.ac.kr/sub03/sub01.php.

3. Each invited participant is expected to turn his or her initialpresentation into a 6,000-word paper for possible inclusion in afuture issue of the SCOPUS-indexed journal, Situations: CulturalStudies in the Asian Context (http://situations.yonsei.ac.kr).

4. We will provide hotel accommodation for each invited speaker. Uponacceptance of the proposal, a partial defrayment of the airfare willbe available (while funding lasts).